Developer Gary Gorman pledges to be good neighbor on Rockford's New Towne Drive

Brian Leaf Staff writer @b_leaf

Tuesday

Aug 30, 2016 at 1:58 PMAug 30, 2016 at 3:07 PM

ROCKFORD — Officials with gold-painted shovels tossed ceremonial soil to the south today, toward a neighborhood that didn't want the 49 units of affordable housing under construction on South New Towne Drive.

The groundbreaking for The Grove at Keith Creek came with a promise from the developer, Gary Gorman.

"To those neighbors who may be able to hear me, you've got my pledge that we will be good neighbors in this area of Rockford," said Gorman, president of Wisconsin-based Gorman & Company, with a muddy construction site as his backdrop.

The development, which is expected to be completed next spring, is part of a plan to replace or rehab 1,100 Rockford Housing Authority residences in coming years. Gorman says that 43 units will be replacement homes for residents of Fairgrounds Valley Apartments, an aging community of 210 apartments that the company describes as "distressed and segregated." And 22 units are designated for sale.

Plans are to tear down Fairgrounds and replace it with a smaller mixed-income apartment community on the grounds at Underwood and West Jefferson streets.

The Grove was, and is, controversial. The development prompted a lawsuit that was thrown out and a heated meeting in June 2015 at Gregory Elementary School at which neighbors blasted the plan.

"Larry Morrissey put (political) capital on the line," Gorman said. "He stood in front of people who weren't happy with him on one unpleasant night and said, 'I support this project. Unequivocally.' "

RHA CEO Ron Clewer said he hoped today's groundbreaking was a new beginning for the project.

"What I'd like us to walk away from here today is not the history of controversy, but the future of opportunity and possibility. That is why we are here," Clewer said.

Antonio R. Riley, regional administrator of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said it took partnerships between the city of Rockford, HUD, Gorman, the Illinois Housing Development Authority, private lenders and investors to get to this point.

Riley said the controversy stemmed from misunderstanding.

"Yes, there were some things that happened that we all weren't proud of," Riley said. "But I saw a community that did not run from the conversation. You walked toward it. You embraced it. And because of that we are here today."

Brian Leaf: 815-987-1343; bleaf@rrstar.com; @b_leaf

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